| Abstract | This study assessed the impact of stocking levels on the growth of Pinus roxburghii and P. patula , which were planted in the two central hill districts of Nepal over the past two decades, and are generally overstocked due to conservative thinning practices. An analysis of more than 150 trees at different stocking levels showed that overstocking has reduced volume growth, and if thinning is delayed, this will be equivalent to a loss of over US$ 200 ha-1 year- 1. To maximize income from such plantations, thinning regimes for the two species are also suggested. |